By Charles Lefebvre

Saamis Drive construction wrapping up for season

Nov 21, 2018 | 12:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — There is relief in sight for drivers who have been detoured past Saamis Drive Northwest this summer.

The city says they will begin paving the road Wednesday and Thursday, with the goal of reopening Saamis Drive Northwest to the public by Monday.

Since the summer, parts of the road have been closed as the city worked on a major infrastructure renovation in the area.

“We’re approximately 50 per cent complete,” said Chris Coslovich, project engineer with the city’s municipal works department. “It involves the installation of roughly 4,000 metres of new storm main and about 3,200 metres of new sanitary main.”

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Coslovich says the project is being divided into five phases. The first phase saw workers working on Saamis Drive from the Union Hall to Box Springs Road, while the second phase ran from Third Street to 200 metres east from Brier Park Road. He says the third phase, which runs from Brier Park Road and Third Street Northwest to the Sun City Ford on Saamis Drive, is approximately 75 per cent complete.

“The pipe is in approximately to about the top of the hill, near the Axxess condos up there,” he said. “The focus right now is getting everything cleaned up for winter, getting the road restored.”

When construction season resumes in the spring, detours will be in place on Saamis Drive Northwest to allow crews to complete the remainder of the project. Coslovich says he expects the project to be finished by fall 2019.

Coslovich says they have not run into any major issues during the project, and says they appreciate the cooperation of the residents and businesses in the area.

“Everyone has been really understanding,” he said. “We know it’s been a significant inconvenience, especially for the folks along Saamis Drive having to be detoured the long way around, but everyone has been quite patient and cooperative.”